After a massive water main break at South Carrollton Avenue and Panola Street sent two feet of water gushing into the streets, WDSU pressed Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans Executive Director Randy Hayman for answers.
He gave a live update on the 48-inch water main break on WDSU Monday morning.
“We were aware of the leak, and it was scheduled to be repaired in the coming days,” Hayman said. “I am in Washington, D.C., to meet with federal legislators to ask for money to address this issue. We have an old system that needs to be replaced and repaired.”
“The area of the break was in the process of being repaired, but work had to be paused because of the 30-inch break on Magnolia,” he said.
Hayman said a break in one area can impact other parts of the city.
WDSU asked whether this was acceptable.
“I don’t think any water main break is acceptable,” Hayman said.
Funding is needed for routine repairs.
“There is a need for a funding program that allows routine replacement. In Philadelphia, we were able to replace 42 miles of water main a year and 12 miles of wastewater mains a year. Here, we don’t have the funding to do that,” Hayman said.
Hayman said a holistic solution is needed.
Regarding the Claiborne break, Hayman said new technology is needed—possibly even public-private partnerships.
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans issued the following statement:
In consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has issued a precautionary boil water advisory (BWA) for a large portion of East Bank of New Orleans which includes 3 areas that include Uptown, the CBD, French Quarter, 9th Ward, Mid City, and Gentilly, as well as two separate areas in New Orleans East.
- Paris Rd from Hayne Blvd. to Lucerne St (Wright Rd)
- Paris Rd from Hayne Blvd. to I-10
- I-10 from Paris Rd to Wright Road
- Wright Rd (Lucerne St) from I-10 to Hayne Blvd.
- Chef Menteur Hwy from Intracoastal Waterway to Chantilly Drive
- Jourdan Road from Chef Menteur Highway
- Terminal Road from Jourdan Rd to Chantilly Drive
- Chantilly Drive to Intracoastal Waterway
- Monticello Ave. from Leake Ave. to S Claiborne Ave.
- S Claiborne Ave. from Monticello Ave. to S Carrollton Ave.
- S Carrollton Ave. from S Claiborne Ave. to Orleans Ave.
- Orleans Ave. from N Carrollton Ave. to Marconi Drive
- Marconi Drive from Orleans Ave. to Filmore Ave.
- Filmore Ave. from Marconi Drive to Intracoastal Waterway
- Intracoastal Waterway from Filmore Ave. to Florida Ave.
- Florida Ave. from Intracoastal Waterway to Parish Line
- Parish Line from Florida Ave. to the River
- The River to Monticello Ave.
A map of the area currently under a precautionary boil water advisory is here.
Water pressures in this area fell below 20 pounds per square inch (psi) due to a break on the 48-in water main near S Carrollton Avenue and Panola Street. Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans crews are on-site and have isolated the break. SWBNO will notify residents when testing has begun.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to use bottled or boiled tap water to drink, cook, clean food or brush teeth until further notice. Residents with compromised immune systems should also use safe water to wash hands, shower or bathe.
SWBNO, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), issues boil-water advisories out of an abundance of caution for areas where water pressure drops below 20 psi.
We agree with the recommendations of LDH that it is prudent to issue these advisories out of an abundance of caution. The concern is that a pressure drop inside a water pipe could allow bacteriological contaminants to enter.
Healthy adults should take the following precautions:
- Washing hands: Use soap and tap water, dry hands, then apply hand sanitizer; the safest option is to wash with bottled or boiled water.
- Showering or bathing: Be careful not to swallow any water. Infants, young children and people with disabilities should be supervised to ensure water is not ingested. Residents with open wounds, chronic illness or weakened immune systems should use boiled or bottled water to bathe until the advisory is lifted.
SWBNO will notify residents when the boil water advisory is canceled. If you have any questions, please call 504-52-WATER (504-529-2837).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOILING WATER
Bring water to a rolling boil in a clean container for a full minute. If the water has a flat taste afterward, shake it in a bottle or pour it from one container to another.
Please review general and LDH recommendations for managing a boil-water advisory at ready.nola.gov/plan/boil-water.
READ MORE:‘Is this acceptable?’: WDSU presses SWBNO director after massive water main break
